RF and microwave photonic temporal signal processing with Kerr micro-combs

Integrated Kerr micro-combs are a powerful source of multiple wavelength channels for photonic radio frequency (RF) and microwave signal processing, particularly for transversal filter systems. They offer significant advantages featuring a compact device footprint, high versatility, large numbers of wavelengths, and wide Nyquist bands. We review progress on photonic RF and microwave high bandwidth temporal signal processing based on Kerr micro-combs with comb spacings from 49 GHz to 200 GHz. We focus on integral and fractional Hilbert transforms, differentiators as well as integrators. The future potential of optical micro-combs for RF photonic applications in terms of functionality and ability to realize integrated solutions is also discussed.

Automated summary

Integrated Kerr micro-combs are a powerful source of multiple wavelength channels for photonic RF and microwave signal processing, offering advantages such as compact device footprint, high versatility, large numbers of wavelengths, and wide Nyquist bands. Research focuses on Hilbert transforms, differentiators, and integrators. The future potential of optical micro-combs for RF photonic applications is discussed in terms of functionality and ability to realize integrated solutions.